Flickering electric candle



March 21, 1961 o. D. BENOLIEL ETAL FLICKERING ELECTRIC CANDLE Filed Aug. 22, 1957 INVENTORS OSMOND D. BENOLIEL JORDAN TOBl AS BY w & ATTORNEYs FLICKERING ELECTRIC CANDLE Osmond D. Benoliel, 302 N .35th St., and Jordan Tobias, 5218 Church St., both of Philadelphia, Pa. 7

Filed Aug. 22, 1957, Ser. No. 679,699 4 Claims. (01. 313-151 Our invention relates to ornamental illuminating devices and more particularly relates to an electrically illuminated bulb which simulates a flickering candle;

Heretofore, illuminating devices of this character employed mechanically movable transparent disks, or aerated liquid to simulate the candle flame in its flickering effect. However, when such devices are viewed at a close distance in other than a very dimly lit room, the illusion is soon destroyed and the romantic realism of a candle flame will vanish.-

It, therefore, is an object of our invention to provide a flickering electric candle wherein the luminous elements simulate the flame of a candle.

Another object of our invention is to provide a flickering electric candle which can be incorporated within any suitable'envelope or bulb utilizing any standard base.

Another object of our invention is to provide a flickering electric candle wherein the electrodes have a configuration simulating a flame and are coated to luminesce when electrically energized.

Another object of our invention is to provide a flickering electric candle which presents a highly decorative and ornamental appearance but is completely safe in operation.

Other objects of our invention are to provide an improvedjdevice of the character described, that. isleasily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly effective in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, our invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of flickering electric candle embodying our invention.

2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of 1g.

F Fig. 3 is a sectional 'view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the electrode elements.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, we show a flickering electric candle comprising a fixed electrode, generally designated as A, and a flexing electrode, generally designated as B supported Within an envelope, generally designated as C.

The fixed electrode A comprises a wire filament of a suitable material such as tungsten bent into a generally V-shaped configuration having a pair of arcuate legs 12 and 14 extending from a pointed apex 16. A suitable luminescent material 18 is coated over the entire surface of the filament electrode A such that the filament will yield as a reddish and/or yellowish glow during excitation. The luminescent coating 18 may either be a phosphorescent material such as antimony oxide-calcium oxide, antimony trisulfide-calcium trisulfide, bismuth sulfate-calcium sulfate or manganous, magnesium or calcium salts in combinations which will provide an emission of light for a short period after removal of the excitation source. The coating 18 may also be a fluorescent substance such as samarium hydroxy quinolinate, musk xylol, alizarine, aloin or other organic or inorganic substances which will emit a yellow or red glow under the influence of an electrically energized discharge. It is also to be observed that the lower portion of the filament may be coated to yield a reddish emission, whereas the upper portion adjacent the apex 16 may be coated toemit a yellowish glow in order to simulate as closely as possible the characteristics 'of acandle flame.

The flexing electrode B comprises abimetallic strip 20 spaced fromthe fixed electrode A and is of a substantially flame or leafv shape in plan configuration to simulate the general contour of a burning flame. The strip 20' comprises a leaf 22 of relatively high coefiicient of thermal expansion, such as an alloy of 22% nickel, 3% chromium and 75% iron, bonded in surface to surface abutment with a leaf 24 of low thermal coeflicient of expansion such as Invar. The lower portion of the electrode B is firmly secured to a'lead wire stem 26 so that the high'expansion leaf 22, is arranged in adjacent spaced relation with the electrode A and low expansion leaf 24 distal thereto there'- by causing the upper portion of the bimetallic strip 20 as a result of heat on the two metals, to curl away from the fixed filament A. Centrally disposed at the bottom of the electrode B is an. aperture 28 whose periphery is= flame shaped concentrically annular with the exterior edge of the bimetallic strip 20. Both surfaces of the bimetallicstripzflare coated with a luminescent substance 30 similar to the coating 18 onthe fixed electrode A whereby the electrode B will also glow as a result of electrical excitation.

9 The envelope C comprises a flame shaped glass bulb 32, sealed at its lower portion within a threaded base a 34. The glass bulb 32 hastherein a low pressure atmosphere ofa gas such as neon which will readily ionize and luminesce when an electrical potential is imposed thereacrossand producea glow discharge. Other gases which are suitable for'thepurpose of this invention are argon, krypton and the like, toproduce corona or .halo effect of a desired color between the electrodes during electrical excitation.

The electrode A has a support stem 36 which is soldered to the threaded portion of the base Whereas the lead wire 26 of electrode B is soldered to the insulated button 38 at the bottom of the base. The flickering electric candle may be inserted in an electrified candlestick lamp receptacle 40 as shown in Fig. 1, or mounted in any suitable socket such as a chandelier or mounted in chain wired sockets used for stringing lights on a Christmas tree.

When an electric potential such as volts A.C. is imposed across the electrodes, the gas in the envelope will break down and ionize, causing a glow discharge between the electrodes. The color of the arc will be dependent upon the gas during ionization thereof. As for example, neon will be yellow and argon will be red. The are at first will be concentrated across the apices of the electrodes since the discharge will occur at the points. As a result, the flexing electrode B will become heated, and as a result of the bimetallic elfect, the strip 20 will curl away from the electrode A. The discharging arc will become lengthened initially because of the increased spacing between the elements and then fall transiently to the lower portion of the electrodes. The are may then disappear briefly when it approaches the very nether portion of the electrodes since there are no points across which the arc may discharge. However, the upper part of electrode B will cool, thereby enabling it to flex again toward the electrode A to initiate a new are across the points of the electrodes. It is to be noted that a halo corona appears about the are which, in conjunction with the luminescence of the electrode coatings 18 and 30, yields a very realistic flickering candle effect which resembles the flame of a burning lantern or candle.

Although our invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be electrode comprising a first leaf of a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion material and a second leaf of a relatively low coetficient of thermal expansion, said first leaf being spaced closer to said fixed electrode than said second leaf whereby said movable electrode when heated will fiex away from said fixed electrode, said bimetallic electrode diverging and converging with respect to said fixed electrode but maintaining spaced relationship therewith as an electrically energized arc is discharged between said electrodes wherby a flickering candle effect is simulated.

2. A flickering electric candle comprising a gas filled envelope, a wire electrode of closed, flame-shaped configuration, supported in said envelope, a bi-metallic electrode comprising a first leaf of a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion material and a second leaf of a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion, said first leaf being spaced closer to said fixed electrode than said second leaf whereby said movable electrode when heated will flex away from said fixed electrode, said bimetallic electrode being supported in said'envelope and maintained in variable spaced relationship from said wire electrode and a luminescent material coated upon each of said electrodes whereby an electrically energized are discharged across said electrodes will flex said bimetallic electrode and cause said luminescent material to glow and thereby simulate a flickering candle.

3. A flickering electric candle comprising a gas filled envelope, a wire electrode of closed flame-shaped configuration, supported in said envelope, a bi-metallic electrode supported in said envelope and maintained in variable spaced relationship with respect to said wire electrode, said bi-metallic electrode comprising a first leaf of a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion material and a second leaf of arelatively low coefficient of thermal expansion, said first leaf being spaced closer to said fixed electrode than said second leaf whereby said movable electrode when heated will flex away from said fixed electrode, said bi-metallic electrode being of normally flat, flame-shaped configuration and having a flameshaped aperture centrally disposed therein, and a luminescent material coated on adjacent surfaces of said electrodes whereby an electrically energized are discharged across said electrodes will cause said bi-metallic electrode to divergently flex from said wire electrode and thereby simulate a flickering candle.

4. A flickering electric candle comprising a transparent gas filled envelope, a bimetallic electrode comprising a first leaf of a relatively high coefiicient of thermal expansion material and a second leaf of a relatively low coeflicient of thermal expansion, said first leaf being spaced closer to said fixed electrode than said second leaf whereby said movable electrode when heated will flex away from said fixed electrode, said bimetallic electrode being of acuminated plan configuration supported in said envelope, a wire electrode of acuminated plan configuration supported in said envelope in spaced registering orientation with said bimetallic electrode, whereby an electrically energized arc will be initially discharged across points when a power source is applied across said electrodes thereby causing said bimetallic electrode to divergently flex from said wire electrode and cause the are to be progressively discharged across the zones of minimum dielectric resistance until no breakdown will occur, thereafter effecting return of the bimetallic electrode to a flat condition for repeating of the cycle and thereby simu late a flickering candle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,600,862 Bahr Sept. 21, 1926 1,617,065 Lorenz Feb. 8, 1927 2,135,707 Gaidies Nov. 8, 1938 2,432,488 Peacock Dec. 9, 1947 2,446,157 Lowry July 27, 1948 

